RHEDESIUM

"Archaeology is the noblest of researches. Because of its thoroughness it instills patience and by the interpretation's we make of our discoveries, [it instills] wisdom" [Savino Di Lernia, Italian archaeologist].

Does the Cross design on the Boudet 'gourd' [see picture to the right] look vaguely Visigothic to you? Look at the Visigothic cross here: this Pendant Cross is from the Votive Crown of a Visigoth King, from the Treasure of Guarrazar. The 'design' is not the straightforward Christian cross. Any chance then that Boudet was accessing a Visigothic crypt around RLB? Or is the gourd simply something like a pilgrim flask? If so, why did pilgrims come to Rennes-les-Bains?

A 5th or 6th century 'gourd' found by Henri Boudet at Rennes-les-Bains. The 5th century is the time period from 401 to 500 - and the 6th century is the time period 501-600AD

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Welcome to Rhedesium, a website founded for the investigation of subjects connected with the history and antiquities of the area formerly known as Septimania. We will investigate all areas of Septimanian history from its Roman occupation through to the Medieval era and beyond. We wish to promote the study of the area's archaeology, art and architecture as well as its political and religious history. Within these parameters we will dissect the region's local folklore and its legends. We will lay particular emphasis on the village of Rhedae - also known popularly as Rennes le-Château & it's fascinating sister village, Rennes-les-Bains.

We will analyze the activities of some of the village's priests & the most significant of these will be Berenger Saunière and Henri Boudet.

Latest articles on to the site are below:

It has to be noted that the subject area also has an esoteric dimension - where esoteric could have several divergent meanings. Perhaps the prime meaning in our context is knowledge that is designed for or is to be understood by those who are specially initiated or, much more likely, knowledge that is of a rare & an unusual interest. One must be alert to this not insignificant dimension.

The website quite naturally divides into the archaeological and historical investigations and then into those more esoteric pages. This seems to correlate well with the two 'levels' of the Rennes le-Château enigma - its archaeological history and the 'real' events of Sauniere's life and the later 'ludibrium' of Plantard & Cherisey [the two people added more information giving us the more modern history].

I hope you enjoy your visit here.

"Marie, after the death of Bérenger, used to teach Catholicism in Sunday school, and once after an hour of class, once she had finished, she closed the book, looked at them and said, ‘my poor kids, if you only knew’ . (Quote reported by Jean Luc Robin).

Is there an important Roman buried in the environs of Rennes-les-Bains, at least according to Delmas, Plantard and Cherisey?